A famous silver hoard was discovered in 1961-1962 in the south-west part of the fortress, near the western stretch of the southern enclosing wall. It must have been hidden in a wooden chest. The objects were collected by local people. The archaeologist Rudolf Laur-Belart was alerted by dr. Charles Bourcart from Basel, and most of the objects could then be retrieved: many silver coins and medaillions, a few silver ingots, and dozens of almost pure silver objects, some gilded. In 1995 some more objects were donated by will by a person who wished to remain anonymous. The hoard is now in the Römermuseum in Augst.
Left: transport of some of the objects to the Römermuseum in Augst.
Right: the landlady of Gasthof zum Löwen, who discovered some of the objects.
Photos: Kaufmann-Heinimann - Furger 1984, Abb. 4-5.The coins and medaillions range from the reign of Diocletianus to that of the sons of Constantine, spanning the period 294-349 AD. The hoard can thus be dated to the middle of the fourth century, a period of barbarian invasions, when several coin hoards were buried in the fortress.
Some coins from the silver hoard. Photo: Wikimedia, Adrian Michael.
A silver ingot with the head of Magnentius surrounded by the text IM(perator) CAE(sar) MAGNENTIVS AVG(ustus),
and the text LVCVBRIO P(ondo) III, so the name Lucubrio or Lucubrius, perhaps the owner of a workshop, and the weight, three pounds.
EDCS-07400583. Photo: Wikimedia, Amada44.The objects are for the most part crockery. Engraved inscriptions record the provenance of some of the objects: Mogontiacum (Mainz, Germany), Thessaloniki (Greece), and Naissus (Nis, Serbia). Outstanding objects are shown below:
The Achilles plate, with scenes from the life of the hero (diam. 0.53). Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Raddato.
The Sea City plate, with a coastal city or villa, sea animals, boats with erotes, surrounded by hunting scenes (diam. 0.59). Photo: Wikimedia, Codrin.B.
The Sea City plate, detail of the central part. Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Raddato.
The Ariadne plate, with Dionysus, Ariadne and a Satyr in the centre (0.415 x 0.35). Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Raddato.
The Decennalia plate of Constans, with male busts. According to an engraved inscription celebrating the tenth anniversary of the rule of Constans:
AVGVSTVS CONSTANS DAT LAETA DECENNIA VICTOR SPONDENS OM(i)NIBVS TER TRICENNALIA FAUSTIS. SANCT(---). P(ondo) X (libras).
"Augustus Constans, victor, gives a happy 10-year festival and, after 3 favourable omens, vows a 30-year festival. Sanct(--- made it?). 10 pounds ".
Dated to 342-343 AD. EDCS-14800087. Photo: Wikimedia, Codrin.B.
Statuette of Venus (h. 0.126) and candelabrum (h. 1.17). Photos: Römermuseum, Augst.The objects were presumably owned by an Imperial official. Two names are engraved on some of the objects: Publius Romulus and Marcellianus, both known as military commanders of the usurper Magnentius. The final owner may however have been a third person.
[26-Sep-2023]
